9. Osiris

9

OSIRIS

S leep evaded Osiris as he sat under the open sky, staring at the front door to his home. He leaned back against Shadow, who was fast asleep, his fingers drumming a soothing rhythm on his head which sat comfortably in his lap.

‘What if the Headless Horseman were to steal you away’.

Eleanor’s words echoed in his mind.

He knew she had meant no ill intent by them, yet they still hurt.

I am not a monster.

“I have never stolen…” his words trailed off, because that wasn’t entirely true either. Still, what was he to do now? What choices were at his disposal?

His shadows danced as he drummed his fingers faster against his pumpkin. Letting her leave, at least right now, was out of the question. If he were to be caught helping her leave, or if she left on her own and was discovered, it could spell disaster for the enclave.

Nevertheless, she could not possibly stay with him, could she? His cottage was rather isolated and he did not oft get any visitors…

He would need to speak with her. Keeping her here was a risk, but so was letting her go. He needed to know more. Where was she going? How will she get there? Does she even know where she is?

Though, it would be better if she didn’t know where she slept.

Shadow’s stomach growled and she let out a deep breath.

“Are you hungry, girl?” Osiris asked, “speaking of hungry… Eleanor will need food too.”

Osiris looked at his garden which was now barren. All that remained were some old roots and pumpkins. He couldn’t force her to eat that all day. He would need more food.

What does she eat?

Osiris was used to dropping off his crops to Eddy. How did she prepare them? He tried recalling their early days of living together but couldn’t recall anything of use.

That only left him with one option, in his mind.

Osiris stood up, lifting his head off his lap and placing it back on his shoulders. He leaned down and gave Shadow’s neck a few firm pats.

“Come on, girl,” he said as she lifted her head to look at him with sleepy eyes, “we need to leave the enclave again.”

Osiris stepped back as the door to the orphanage opened. Seeing Eddy step out, half awake, did stir up a bit of guilt. After all, it was late and she spent most of her days chasing around small children. Still, this was something that he absolutely could not do on his own. Out of all the books she had given him, none had mentioned the preparation of food.

“Osiris,” Eddy asked, wiping the sleep out of her eyes as she stepped outside, “what is it? What is the matter?”

Osiris held his hands together in front of him, squeezing them tight, the light in his head dimming. “I… need help.” Eddy’s eyes widened, but he continued before she could speak. “I cannot tell you why, not yet at least, but, I need to know how to prepare human food.”

Her brows furrowed as she tilted her head quizzically. “You need to prepare human food?” she repeated slowly, confusion dripping off her words

Osiris nodded his head, the light dimming even further, as he pleaded, “Please, old friend, I would not have come here so late if it was not important.”

He knew how ridiculous he must have sounded. Still, Eleanor would require food both in the morning and while they figured out how to move forward.

Eddy sighed, pushing the door to the orphanage all the way open, revealing the inside. “Come on in.” Osiris leaned forward to look inside, squeezing his hands together once more. “The children areasleepand will not wake until the late hours of the morning,” she said gently.

Osiris nodded his head again, and for the first time since helping her build the orphanage, stepped inside the building.

It looked the same as it did all those years ago. As he walked down the arched hallways, he noted the high walls adorned with the paintings of Eddy with the children. Their innocent, bright smiles added a kind of warmth to the place that was entirely new to him.

As he walked through the halls, he passed by the playroom and numerous bedrooms with names written on the doors.

“There is so much happiness here,” Osiris whispered.

“You should see it during the day,” Eddy said as she entered the kitchen ahead of him.

Lighting some oil lamps, the room began to glow in a soft orange. “Would you be a dear?” she asked, gesturing to the open cast iron stove.

Osiris smiled as he walked forward, bending down to open the small door that held the wood and coals. Taking a breath, he blew out some of the fire from his head. Within seconds, the stove began to heat.

“I know you said not to ask, but you cannot fault an old woman for being curious. Tell me what has you so nervous, Osiris.”

Osiris stood up and walked back to Eddy, stopping when he reached her side. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she leaned against the wooden counter.

“I…” words had never been a struggle for Osiris, and yet at that moment, all of his eloquence seemed to escape him. “I have a woman in my home.”

Eddy’s eyes widened. “A woman? A human woman?”

Osiris’ shoulders sagged as he squeezed his hands harder. “I found her. She was hurt. The beings were leaving the forest and I didn’t want to risk them finding her, so I took her home in a panic, but now I have no idea how to get her out without one of the beings sensing a human. I don’t know what to do but, come morning, she will need food, and what if I ruined everything by bringing her back-”

Eddy grabbed Osiris’ hands, cutting off his ramblings as she held them in her own. “Breathe,” she said, “as much as you can, try to breathe. Everything will be okay.”

“She doesn’t even know that I am not human. When she finds out, she will think I am a monster.”

“Hush, Osiris. It is unfair for you to determine her reaction before you even give her a chance. Do you know how to eat a squash?”

Osiris tilted his head. “Pardon?”

Eddy chuckled. “A squash,” she started, dropping his hands as she rummaged through the cupboards, pulling out a large mixing bowl, “is a very large vegetable. If you try to eat it all at once, you will fail. You might even choke. The only way to successfully eat something so enormous, is to do so one bite at a time.” Eddy handed Osiris the mixing bowl and nodded her head towards the orange aprons, hanging on the wooden wall. “So, take this one step at a time. And that first step should be learning how to make something edible, so the poor thing doesn’t starve to death.”

Osiris smiled softly, some of his nerves settling enough that his head brightened. “What are we making?”